Skip to content

Import contacts

Import Contact Data from Other Sources

EZ Contact Book currently supports two primary import file formats: *.CSV(Comma-Separated Values) and *.VCF(vCard). You can also import data from Excel files by first saving them in the *.CSV format.

To import contact data from a file, navigate to the menu Data > Import:

Import options in EZ Contact Book

Once you select the file, a dialog will prompt you to choose how the contacts should be imported:

Selection of Import options - add automatically vs. review before adding

Import from CSV Files

To begin the CSV import, select Data > Import > from CSV File.

Preparation Before CSV Import

Before importing a CSV file, open it in a spreadsheet application (like Excel or OpenOffice Calc) and ensure the following criteria are met:

  • The first row contains column titles (e.g. First Name, Last Name, Phone, Email, etc.).
  • The First Name and Last Name columns exist (these are mandatory fields).
  • Unused columns are removed to simplify the field mapping process.
  • You may optionally add a "Group" column to organize contacts; otherwise, all contacts will be imported into one group that you select.

If the column names in your file do not perfectly match the fields in EZ Contact Book, the Import Mapping screen appears. To map your source fields to the destination fields, select the left (source) and right (destination) fields one by one, then press Add to Map.

Once all necessary fields are mapped, click Import.

Screenshot of the Import Field Mapping dialog

Example: Importing Contacts from Thunderbird Address Book

  1. Open Thunderbird and navigate to the Address Book.
  2. Right-click on the desired address book and select Export....
  3. Choose Comma Separated as the export type and save the file.
  4. Import this saved file to EZ Contact Book.

Import from Google CSV Files

  1. Export contacts from your Google account
  2. Import the file via Data > Import > from CSV File

Note

Google CSV files generally require no manual mapping. However, be aware that some field differences exist (e.g., "Street Address 1" and "Street Address 2" may appear combined as a single "Address" field in Google Contacts).

Import from vCard (VCF) Files

To import from a vCard file, select Data > Import > from vCard File

If the vCard contains multiple contacts, all of them will be imported. Supported versions are 2.1 and 3.0.

Convert Excel Spreadsheet Files to CSV Files

Contacts stored in an Excel spreadsheet must first be saved as a comma-separated values (CSV) file before they can be imported into EZ Contact Book.

Tip

Note that some long phone numbers may be truncated during this conversion process. See the FAQ tip for a solution on how to fix this issue.

Resolve Import Conflicts

During the import process, the program checks for existing contacts based on the combination of First Name + Last Name:

  • No Match Found:
    • If you selected the "Add all new contacts automatically" Import Option, a new contact is added.
    • If you selected the "Let me decide what contacts to add" option, the contact is added to the "Unmatched" list for later review.
  • Perfect Match Found: The import skips the contact.
  • Differences Found: If a potential match exists but has conflicting data, the Conflict Editor appears, allowing you to review and update the records:

Screenshot of the Conflict Resolution Editor

The Conflict Editor provides options to:

  • Update individual fields only.
  • Overwrite all the fields with the imported data.
  • Import only the unmatched contactsfrom the source file.

Comparison of Import Methods

Since different systems store contact data in varied formats, EZ Contact Book attempts to map fields as closely as possible.

  • CSV Files: If correctly mapped, exporting and re-importing should produce identical core data. However, group types, extra fields, custom labels, reminders and tags are not transferrable.
  • vCard Files: Reminders and tags are NOT supported.

Group types (Personal/Business) are unavailable in both VCF files and CSV files and must be set manually after the import is complete.

Lossless Data Transfer Methods

For transferring data between two computers with maximum data retention, the following methods are recommended:

  • Database Backup and Restore (*.db files): This method retains all data, including custom fields, tags, and program settings.
  • Sync: This method allows real-time data updates between multiple computers, completely avoiding manual exports and imports.